Self-locking coin box



.4 4 4, 44440 J g ABBOTT 2,475,441

SELF-LOCKING COIN BOX Filed May 26, 1948 Q INVENTOR. 4101422 UAfioff A TTORNEY Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES SELF-LOCKING COIN B'OX John G. Abbott, Fort Lee, N; J r

Application May 26, 1948} Serial Nos29217 6 Claims. 1

This invention consists of a self-locking coin bank, made from two blanks of material, such as paper, cardboard, or the like, adapted to be completed by the manufacturer for shipment in collapsed condition, efiecting a considerable saving in space until it is desired to assemble-the bank by opening the blanks.

The outer blank is provided with a coin slot and an interlock flap pendant from the said blank and immediately underlying the coin slot, when the blank is manufactured. The inner blank is provided with upper side wall flaps and upper end wall flaps adapted to underlie the interlock flap of the outer blank. Bythisarrangement, upon inserting the initial coin into thebank; the interlock flap of the outer blank is projected through an aperture defined by the opposed recesses of the upper side :wall flaps and the end wall flaps of the inner blank, and interlocks therewith to prevent separation of the blanks thereafter.

By the arrangement described, I have provided a self-locking bank which is rugged and durablein use and which cannot be opened except upon destruction thereof.

These and other advantageous'objects, which will appear from the drawings, and from the dew scription hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, of which an embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. It will. be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings, and the following description, that the invention may be embodied in other forms suggested thereby, and such other forms as come withinthe scope of the appended claims are to be considered'within the scope and purview of the instant invention;

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 .is a top plan view of an outerblank embodying my invention in its initially blankedout form,

Fig. 2 is a view of said blank in its manufactured, collapsed condition,

Fig, 3 is a plan view of an inner blank embody"- ing-my invention in its initially blanked-out form,

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof in its manufactured, collapsed condition,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the outer blank opened for use, and the inner blank correspondingly opened and partly inserted into the outer blank, in the assembly operation,

Fig. 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the assembled blanks, showing the interlock flap, of the outer blank underlying the top wall of the outer blank in registrywith the coin slot thereof 2 andresting upon-the upp'erzsidewall fiapsof the inner-blank.

Fig. '7 .is asimilanview; showing theinitially insertedzcoinprojectingtheinterlockflapthroueh the aperture defined by .thelopposed recessed portions of the upper; side wall :flaps,- .and the end wall flaps,-

Fig. 8 is aplan. view, partly-fragmentary, taken on. line 8,-8 ofFig. fiyanrl .1

Fig. 9.'is-,a view simil'arzto Fig. 7, but showing the-position 10f the-interlock flap: after the initial coinhas been deposited in the rbankr.

As: shown,.in-:Fig.. 1 of :the: drawings; the .outer blank is preferably made of 2a si-ngle sheet'ofcmaterial; for. manufacturing: purposes, itinay be formed .inv one zoperatiorr simultaneously with the innerblankp Said' blanks: may be cut of any suit able material, -such ".astpaper; cardboard, or. the like-scored and slitted .as indicated in'Figs. 1 and. 3. The outer :blankll [his provided with longitudinal score-lines .12, ,IZLlgilHbzfilldl'ZCrtO divide the same into top and bottom; walls l3 andv [4, sidewalls I5; l5a,z andwan interlockifiaprlli, pendant from. one ofthe sides walls [511, andhaving za.

reduced interlockrtonguer [1. The .margin. I 8-.of the interlock-flap" is;providedilwith anadhesive or the like for the apurposaofsecuring thesame same with theinnenblankon. insertion of -Ia; coin.

The inner blank 1 l is provided .withscore lines.

22, 2211,2217 and .220, transverse toathe longitudinal axis thereof to-dividethesame into end walls. 23. and. 24 and side-walls-25. and- 25a, and a flap.

26 pendant from one of the end .walls (24) :and:

adapted .to have-an adhesive. orthe like applied thereto to securethesamet theunderside of the side wall"25 in the manufacture .of the inner blank; The inner blank is further provided withthe-longitudinalupper score lines 32, 32a, 32b;

and-32c, to define upper side 'walliflaps 33am 34 and upperend wall flaps iii and 36; and with longitudinal lower score lines'3l, 37a, 31b'and' 31c, to define: lower side wall flaps 38 and 39 and lower end-wall flaps and-i4 t;- Transverse-slits 42, 4211. further. define theupperend wall flap 35, and the transverse slit 42b further 'defines' the upper :end .wallfiap. 3B. Transverse slits 42c and 42d: further define.- the =-lower end: wall flap 4D;

and the transverse es'lit a42e :"further defines the lower end wall flap 4 I. The upper side wall flaps 33 and 34 are provided with shouldered ends 45, 46, 45a, 46a, which, with the recessed portions 43 and 44 of said flaps, on opening of the inner blank to its operative position, define an aperture 49 through which the interlock tongue I! of the outer flap may be projected by the first coin inserted through the coin slot I9. The interlock tongue I! is of a width IIw (Fig. 8) greater than the width of the aperture 49 defined by the recessed portions 43 and 44, and shouldered ends 45, 46, 45a, 46a, of the upper side wall flaps 33 and 34, and of a length slightly less than that of said aperture 49. The upper side wall flaps eS- sentially define a top wall 53 having the aperture 49. If desired, the top wall 53 might be formed as one member formed unitarily with or secured to either of the side walls, and havin a marginal portion to be secured to the other side wall of the inner blank.

While I have shown and described the blanks I and I I as being completed in the manufacturing operation by gluing the interlock flap I6 to the undersurface of the top Wall I3 and gluing the fiap 26 to the undersurface of the side wall 25 respectively, the same end may be attained by use of clips or other fastening means. When manufactured, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer blank I0 may be stored or shipped in collapsed position; the inner blank II may be similarly stored or shipped in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 4. This effects a considerable saving of storage space and shipping charges, and a saving of packaging materials.

The ultimate user of the bank does not have to secure the inner and. outer blanks together by use of any extraneous means. He need only open the outer blank from its collapsed position shown in Fig. 2, open the inner blank from its collapsed position shown in Fig. 4, and then fold the lower side wall flaps 38 and 39 of the inner blank along the score lines 31a and 310, fold the lower end wall flaps 40 and 4| therebeneath, fold the upper side wall flaps 33 and 34 along the score lines 32a and 320, and fold the end wall flaps 35 and 36 thereon. By this operation, the inner and outer blanks will be folded to the position indicated in Fig. 5, and the inner blank may be readily inserted into the outer blank. The score lines 22, 22a, 22b, and 220 of the inner blank are transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof while the score lines I2, I2a, I22) and I20 of the outer blank are parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, so that the assembled blanks, with their score lines directed at right angles to each other, provide a very rigid structure.

On assembly of the blanks to form the complete bank, double thicknesses are provided where most strains occur, namely, at the sides, top and bottom of the bank.

In the assembly operation, illustrated in Fig. 5, the inner blank, on insertion into the outer blank, will have the upper side wall flaps 33 and 34 thereof and the upper end wall flaps 35 and 36 which are superimposed over flaps 33 and 34 underlying the interlock flap I6 of the outer blank, as illustrated in Fig. 6. On insertion of the coin 0 through the slot I9 of the outer blank ID, the interlock flap will be projected through the aperture 49 of the inner blank. The tongue I! of the interlock flap will then be disposed between the said end Wall flaps 35 and 36 and beneath one of the side wall flaps 33, 34. Thus, the blanks I0 and II are effectively interlocked;

4 the bank 50 cannot be opened thereafter except on destruction.

When the user folds the inner blank to the position shown in Fig. 5, the lower side wall flaps 38 and 39 thereof are disposed on the lower end wall flaps 40 and 4|, which, in turn, in the assenibled bank, are disposed on the bottom wall I4 of the outer blank.

Thus, in the assembled bank 50, it will be practically impossible to insert any device to surreptitiously remove coins; it will also be practically impossible to remove coins through the slot I9 by virtue of the interlock tongue I1 therebelow, as above noted.

The deveice of my invention may be made, if desired, without the tabs 45a, 46a, 45, 46 on side wall flaps 33 and 34. If so made, interlock tongue I"! would fit between and be locked by end wall flaps 35 and 36. The advantage, however, of providing the side wall flap tabs is that they keep the end wall flaps 35 and 36 in the assembled bank from collapsing and at the same time provide reinforcement against pressure applied to an end wall in an attempt to force open the bank.

It is contemplated that the bank be manufactured at such low cost that it will be practical to simply destroy the same when it is desired to obtain the saved coins, and to replace the same with new banks from time to time as thus required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having top and bottom walls and side walls, the top wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap pendant from one of the sidewalls and having a reduced interlock tongue, the inner blank having end and side walls and upper side wall flaps, having recessed portions and shouldered ends defining, with said recessed portions, an aperture, on assembly of the outer blank, through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot to interlock the inner and outer blanks.

2. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having top and bottom walls and side Walls, the top wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap pendant from one of the side walls, and having a reduced interlock tongue, the inner blank having end and side walls and upper side wall flaps having recessed portions and shouldered ends defining, with said recessed portions, on assembly, on the outer blank, an aperture of a width less than the width of the interlock tongue and of a length greater than the length of the interlock tongue, whereby, through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot to interlock the inner and outer blanks.

3. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having a top wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap marginally secured to said top wall and having a reduced interlock tongue, the inner blank having upper side wall flaps having recessed portions and shouldered ends defining, with said recessed portions, on assembly on the outer blank, an aperture of a width less than the width of the interlock tongue and of a length greater than the length of the interlock tongue, whereby, through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot, to interlock the inner and outer blanks.

4. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having a top "wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap secured to said top wall and having a reduced interlock tongue longitudinally scored medially of the width thereof, the inner blank having an aperture of a Width less than the Width of the interlock tongue and of a length greater than the length of the interlock tongue, whereby, through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot to interlock the inner and outer flaps.

5. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having top and bottom walls and side walls, the top wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap pendant from one of the side walls, said flap having a reduced interlock tongue, the inner blank having end and side walls and upper side wall flaps, said flaps having recessed portions and shouldered ends defining with said recessed portions, a top Wall having an aperture through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot to interlock the inner and outer blanks.

6. A self-locking coin holder comprising an inner blank and an outer blank, the outer blank having top and bottom walls and side walls, the top wall having a coin slot, an interlock flap pendant from one of the side walls, said flap having a reduced interlock tongue, the inner blank having end and side walls and upper side wall flaps, said flaps having recessed portions and shouldered ends defining with said recessed portions a top wall having an aperture through which said interlock tongue may be projected on insertion of a coin through said slot to interlock the inner and outer blanks, the side walls of said inner blank having lower side Wall flaps and the end walls of said inner blank having lower end wall flaps, the said lower flaps being adapted, on assembly of the inner blank, to define a bottom wall positioned on the bottom wall of the outer blank on assembly of the blanks.

JOHN C. ABBOTT.

No references cited. 

